Youth Detention Facility Boys & Girls Club Chosen as Top 10 Finalist in National Contest

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Sacramento Youth Detention Facility Chosen as Top 10 Finalist in National Contest

SACRAMENTO, CA – August 17, 2017

On Tuesday, August 15, residents from the Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility were named as one of ten top finalists in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America “#BGCmade Contest." The contest, presented by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, was launched on July 10, 2017, inviting Club alumni to share their success stories while earning cash and other prizes to give back to their club. From July 10 through July 31, video submissions were accepted from current and former Club members, employees, and volunteers for the chance to win $10,000 for their neighborhood Boys & Girls Club.

The Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility (YDF) began its partnership inside the facility with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Sacramento in June 2014. Since then, the club has been offering a full range of programming to all of the facility's juvenile residents. It provides education, career development, leadership, health/life skills, art, sports, fitness, and recreation. Club activities are operated after school, Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays.

Catalina Pagan, the facility's Boys & Girls Club Program Director, shared the contest announcement with YDF management and staff, quickly garnering support to present the project to the residents. Soon after, eight interested residents from the facility's mentor program began working together to produce a video sharing the impact of the Boys & Girls Club on their lives.

“The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento's juvenile hall program focuses on supporting the kids that truly need us the most by providing hope, opportunity and programs designed to ensure that our members are empowered to make good choices and stay on a positive path towards a productive future. The #BGCmade contest allowed our YDF club members to come together and share their very personal stories; all in an effort to give back to the program that is changing their lives forever," said Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento CEO Kimberly Key.

The youth participants worked collaboratively to produce the video in order to share their stories. Making the video even more uniquely their own, the youth utilized the facility's Music Program resources to even create the original music and lyrics for the video's soundtrack.

One of the youth who worked on the YDF entry said, “The Boys and Girls Club impacted me tremendously. They showed me a lot of life skills, such as how to write a job application, how to be successful, and how to stay on the right path. They showed me that even though I'm locked up, I can get a good house, I can get a good job, I can still go to college, and I can still get a family. They showed me that if I believe, I can achieve because I am BGC made."

“The positive impact the Boys & Girls Club has on our residents is evident. Daily, they are encouraged, inspired, and challenged to think differently about what's next for their lives. Their selection as finalists in this contest further confirms to them that developing their talents and skills, coupled with hard work and determination, can be fulfilling and result in success," says Sacramento County Chief Probation Officer Lee Seale.

Although YDF's entry has been selected as one of the finalists out of over 100 entries submitted to the contest, nationwide, the contest is not over; a grand-prize is still up for grabs.

The grand-prize winner will be determined by public vote, which began when the finalists' videos were posted to the contest site. Those in support of YDF's video are encouraged to go to http://bit.ly/BGCmade from now until Monday, August 21, at 11:59 p.m. PST and select the heart icon on the video. Contest rules allow for multiple votes per day.

“With the help of the Boys & Girls Club, we have reached so many youth through a wide spectrum of pro-social, educational, and mentorship activities. These activities help them discover their potential and realize they can have a future beyond detention, beyond probation supervision," said Youth Detention Facility Chief Deputy Brian Lee.